mom angry after kids badly sunburned during field trip (school ban on sunscreen)

[pnwmom]

121. This is what the article said:

"The girls were not allowed to bring sunscreen on the trip because of a school-board-wide policy that bans the creams, over fears of allergic reactions."

And another link:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/22/jesse-michener-sunburn_n_1618964.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular

The girls weren't allowed to put any sunblock on though, and the reason cited was school policy.

Tacoma Public School district spokesman Dan Voelpel told Yahoo! Shine that, according to statewide law, teachers are not allowed to apply sunscreen to students and students can only apply it to themselves if they have a doctor's note.

And a link to the mother's blog:

http://lifephotographed.com/2012/06/burn-babies-burn/


Let me back up a bit and share what I experienced yesterday: after seeing the kids upon returning home from work, I immediately went to the school to speak with the principal. Her response centered around the the school inability to administer what they considered a prescription/medication (sunscreen) for liability reasons. And while I can sort of wrap my brain around this in theory, the practice of a blanket policy which clearly allows for students to be put in harm’s way is deeply flawed. Not only does a parent have to take an unrealistic (an un-intuitive) step by visiting a doctor for a “prescription” for an over-the-counter product, children are not allowed to carry it on their person and apply as needed. Had my children gone to school slathered in sunscreen (which they did not, it was raining), by noon – when the sun came out – they would have needed to reapply anyway. Something as simple as as sun hat might seem to bypass the prescription issue to some extent. Alas, hats are not allowed at school, even on field day.

My children indicated that several adults commented on their burns at school, including staff and other parents. One of my children remarked that their teacher used sunscreen in her presence and that it was “just for her.” So, is this an issue of passive, inactive supervision? Where is the collective awareness for student safety? If they were getting stung by bees, teachers would remove them. Staff need to be awake to possible threats or safety issues and be able to take action. Prolonged sun exposure leads to burns: either put sunscreen on or, at the very least, remove the child from the sun. A simple call would have brought me to that school in minutes to assist my kids.

Common sense missing + fear of being sued = my kids pay the price. Not okay.

EDITED TO ADD: a friend just posted to my facebook page that it would cost her about $110 in a doctor’s visit to get the required prescription for sunscreen. Incredible.